Spooklands isn’t like other shooters. Take a look at a screenshot and you’d be forgiven for expecting it to be a dual-stick shooter, and a frantic affair at that. It’s certainly the latter but this is in part because it offers a unique control method. One-touch controls mean you shoot and move at the same time, with your finger controlling where you fire and simultaneously knocking you back the other way. It takes some practice but it’s quite a cool way of doing things.

Much of that success stems from the fact that Spooklands requires plenty of strategy. Nowhere is truly safe as enemies can come out of any wall, and keeping moving is vital while also taking out those foes at the same time. Soon enough, bouncing around the arena is kind of like a violent game of billiards.

You’re given two forms of firing with a charged shot and a regular shot. The former is more powerful and can take out more enemies but it’s also got a hefty recoil on it, meaning you fly across the arena more rapidly. Combining the two is generally the best way to rack up the high scores. There are power-ups to pick up too, but sometimes you’re better off steering clear of them for fear of being overrun while trying to negotiate the arena.

There’s no leveling-up or upgrade system here, so progression and unlocking new sections is solely down to your skill level. It’s an Endless game but that doesn’t stop the presence of bosses, which can be pretty tough to defeat.

Such a difficulty curve means that some players are going to struggle. Despite that, Spooklands is an inventive mix and twist on the usual shooter format. It’s sure to draw you in and excite at regular points.

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